MAESTRO: Making Art-Enabled Sketches through Randomized Operations

Abstract

Contemporary digital art has an overwhelming trend of non-photorealism emulated by different algorithmic techniques. This paper proposes such a technique that uses a randomized algorithm to create artistic sketches from line drawings and edge maps. A curve-constrained domain (CCD) is defined by the Minkowski sum of the input drawing with the structuring element whose size varies with the pencil diameter. Each curve segment is randomly drawn in the CCD in such a way that it never intersects itself, whilst preserving the overall input shape. An artist's usual trait of making irregular strokes and sub-strokes with varying shades while sketching, is realistically captured in this randomized approach. Simulation results demonstrate its efficacy and elegance. © 2011 Springer-Verlag.